Fathoming the thoughts and works of Ahsanullah

From time to time we get people who enrich society and the country through their knowledge, intellect, dedication and work. Khanbahadur Ahsanullah (1873 - 1965) was such a great person. He was a renowned educationist, writer, social reformer, philanthropist, literary figure and a saintly person. In the book Khanbahadur Ahsanullah: Shikkha O Samajchinta, author Dr. Muhammad Abdul Mazid discusses the Khanbahadur's thoughts on education and society as well as his contribution to social development and educational reforms. The book, which is basically a research carried out by the author, also discusses Ahsanullah's spiritual life.
The author begins the book with a discussion dealing with 'Khanbahadur Ahsanullah and Contemporary Society'. Ahsanullah was born in a period when this region's Muslim community was in a critical condition. Specifically speaking, Muslims were lagging behind other major communities in the education sector as they had been unwilling to learn English.
Born in Nolta village in the district of Satkhira, Ahsanullah completed his MA in Philosophy from Presidency College, Calcutta, in 1895. He started his career in 1896 as a supernumerary teacher at Rajshahi Collegiate School. During his entire career, a kind of politico-social and cultural unrest was prevalent in society.
Ahsanullah did not involve himself with any organisation or politics; rather he created his own world with the scholarship and intellect he acquired. Khanbahadur Ahsanullah's pioneering role is comparable with that played by Ramtanu Lahiri and Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar in the reformation of the then Hindu community; and also with the contributions made by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, Nawab Abdul Latif and Syed Ameer Ali for the advancement of the Muslim community.
Khanbahadur Ahsanullah's contributions to the development and reformation of education as well as his philosophy of education are discussed in the third, fourth and fifth chapters of the book. The entire service-life of Ahsanullah was spent at the Department of Education. During his career of 34 years, he not only served the government dutifully but also was devoted to the welfare of the neglected and backward people of his community.
He undertook various reforms for progress in their educational activities. By reforming the Secondary and Higher Madrasa curriculum and syllabus, he enabled students, who passed Madrasa examinations, to go to university. He played an active role in creating the post of Maulvi, (equivalent to the post of Pandit), in schools and colleges. He also contributed to the creation of the New Scheme Madrasa.
Khanbahadur Ahsanullah established many educational institutions during his lifetime. He played a major role in establishing many student hostels in and outside Calcutta, including the famous Bekar Hostel in the city. The Fuller Hostel of Rajshahi is an undying witness to his great contributions.
He was especially active in the movement to establish the University of Dhaka. When the Dhaka University Bill was first presented to the Calcutta University Senate, it faced stiff opposition. Later, a special committee was formed to review this bill, and Ahsanullah was made one of its members. As a distinguished member of the committee, highlighting the need for such an institution, he recommended that the bill be passed.
During the culminating phase of his service life, when Ahsanullah was promoted to higher ranks, he put the experiences derived from years of dedication and hard work to their best use. During his time, there was the tradition of writing the names of the students in the examination papers.
Many people believed that this 'open identity' went against the interests of a section of the students. For this reason, Ahsanullah went all-out to introduce the system of writing the roll numbers of students instead of their names. This was first applied to the Honours and MA examinations and later was also followed in the IA and BA examinations of the time.
Ahsanullah was the first person among the Hindus and Muslims of the undivided Bengal to join the Indian Education Service (IES). He was then appointed Assistant Director of the Department of Education, being the first Muslim in this post as well. He also worked for some time as Director of the Department of Education of undivided Bengal, the topmost post of the department.
Ahsanullah was a Senator of the University of Calcutta. For his contributions to the development of the Department of Education and as a recognition for his sincere and laudatory initiatives, he was conferred the 'Khanbahadur' title by the then British government.
Khanbahadur Ahsanullah wrote more than seventy books. Many of his books, specifically, 'Shikkha Khetre Bongio Musolman', 'Teacher's Manual' and 'Calcutta University Commission Report 1917 - 1919', present his views on education.  Ahsanullah would believe that education's main objective should be creating enlightened human beings. He also put great emphasis on women's education.
In the subsequent chapters of the book, Dr Mazid attempts to present Ahsanullah's social thoughts and works as well as their impact on society. The writer also focuses on this great person's spiritual life. On 15 March, 1935, Khanbahadur Ahsanullah founded the famous organisation - Ahsania Mission.
Ahsania Mission is a true manifestation of Ahsanullah's faith, ideals and it mirrors the inherent beauty of his inner and outer being. It was he who set the aims and objectives of the mission: Praying for the grace of the Creator and serving those created by Him. The country's leading development organisation Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM) was the brainchild of Khanbahadur Ahsanullah which he founded in 1958. Selfless service was one of the most distinct features of his life.
He wrote in his autobiography: "I have set my life's goal to serve people living far away from the cities. The pleasure that the offering of service gives cannot be found in personal aggrandizement. Boundless love will not come unless the element of 'self' is negated. If there is no love for the creations, there cannot be any love for the Creator. The only aims of my life are to extend brotherhood, fraternity and spread the message of peace."
Khanbahadur Ahsanullah was an extremely pious man and a Sufi. His natural humility and spiritual radiance gave many people a new direction for leading a worthy and beautiful life. The remark of Khanbahadur Ahsanullah on the mutual relation between the saint and his followers bears testimony to the clarity, wisdom and humbleness of his character:
 "The responsibility of the 'peer' or the saint is to flourish and nurture the spiritual power of his followers. No saint can create spiritual power. He can only bring to surface the power already bestowed on one by the Almighty."
 Khanbahadur Ahsanullah was blessed with a long life. He sacrificed his whole life for the betterment of the common people and society. The name of this vast and many-splendoured personality will reverberate again and again through generations. Although his life and activities are now a part of history, this nation and its people will continue to feel indebted to him in many ways.
The book's author Muhammad Abdul Mazid received his MA in English from Dhaka University, and PhD in Agricultural Economics from Victoria University, USA.  A former secretary to the Bangladesh government, Dr Mazid is the ex-chairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR).
He also worked as the Chief Coordinator of Bangladesh Diabetic Samity.  He is currently working as the Chairman of Chittagong Stock Exchange Limited. Dr. Mazid is an avid reader, prolific writer and researcher. He has over 20 publications relating to economic research and development, financial management, fiscal budgets and even some literary and nonfiction works.
The writer is an independent researcher.
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